Clamp applying tool



.Jan- 18, 1944 H. H. HELBusH 2,339,397

CLAMP APPLYING TOOL Filed Sept. 22, 1941 Patented Jan. 18,` 1944 UNITED s'lA'lr3sv PATENT orriclzyA Application September 22, 1941, Serial No. 411,879

(Cl. .Z9-84) 1 Claim.

This invention relates to devices for applying clamps and the like; and, more particularly, it has to do with applying tools for applying and removing clamp devices commonly employed for holding together in superposed relation perforated sheets for riveting purposes.

Such clamps usually have spring pressed retaining pins'adapted to be inserted in aligned perforations in the superposed sheets. The springs used for this purpose are relatively strong and the applying tool must be capable of compressing the spring. Since the applying tool must be operated and manipulated by manual eiort, it is important that the tool be of a construction minimizing this eiort. The applying tools now being used are of the pliers type having one bifuracted jaw to hold the clamp and another jaw to compress the spring, The arched path followed by such jaws in moving towards each other, however, renders it difficult or impossible to operate them to apply pressure to the spring and retaining pin in ra straight line coaxial with those members, thus rendering the device diilcult of operation, causing injury to the clamp and often resulting in the clamp flying out of the jaws and injuring a worker.

I have found that the ideal device for the purpose is one which utilizes a plunger moving against the spring pressed retaining pin in a straight line coaxial with the -pin and spring, and in a copending application Serial Number 408,100, filed August 23, 1941, there'is shown a plunger type clamp applying tool, in which the plunger is operated by a trigger and link mechanism in a pistol-shaped device. This present application is by way of improvements upon that type of device.

An object of this invention is to utilize a plungu er movement in conjunction with a pincers type actuating mechanism, thus materially 'reducing the cost of manufacture, providing a relatively light and durable structure and reducing to a minimum the manual eiort required for operation.

Another important object is to provide a clamp applying tool which is particularly adaptable for applying clamps in corners and in overhead places which would otherwise require a cramped position of the users hand to use the device.

My invention has still further objects and produces still further advantages, and how those, as well as the foregoing, are attained will be made clear by the following detailed description of one preferred form in which the invention may be carried out. For this purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is an end View on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing a clamp mounted in the applying tool;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on line 6-5 of Fig. 2'.

Referring now to the drawing, I show at 5 a cylinder in which a plunger 6 slidably ts. The outer end of the plunger is provided with a recess 8 to receive the headed end of the sleeve and spring pressed retaining pin4 of a clamp C (see Fig. 4) and the under side ofthe plunger is recessed at I2 to receive the actuating jaw to be laterdescribed.

The cylinder terminates in a half round cradle portion I4 having an end portion I5 of reduced inner diameter to fit into the annular groove I6 of the clamp and to provide an inner Ashoulder undercut at IS. This undercut I8 is provided to receive an oppositely disposed portion I9 of a clamp in the manner more particularly described and claimed in copending application Serial Number 408,100, led August 23, 1941.

For operating the plunger, I provide channelled arms 20, 2| pivoted together adjacent their upper ends by pin 23. Arm 20 has an extension 20a which is welded' or otherwise secured to the cylinder 5 and to the downwardly projecting portion 5a of the cylinder, Arm 2| slidably ts at 2Ia in the channel of arm 20 as a guideway and has a bifurcated jawv 2lb which ts in recess I2 of the plunger to slide the plunger by means of the side walls of the slot'lc engaging the cross pin I2Ia in the recess I2.' As shown in Fig. 4, cradle I4 opens obliquely to the plane of movement of the arms 20, 2l or somewhat tothe side,

, to facilitate inserting and removing the clamp C.

- housing and rotatably carries a split retaining pin 35 which has parallel legs slidable through the' holes in the end wall 3l and cap 32 for insertion in aligned perforations in superposed sheets. Pin,

35 -has a head 36 at its inner end which ts in the recess provided in thefhead I0 of the sleeve 34 and has enlarged portions 3l on the outer ends of the parallel legs.' A coil spring 38 is dis-i posed longitudinally of the pin and sleeve, seating at its inner end against housing wall 3| and at its opposite end against head l0 of the sleeve. A T-shaped spreader 40 has its cross-arm rotatably housed between wall 3l and cap 32, extending transversely between the legs of the retaining pin, the central arm projecting outwardly through the hole in the cap, between the legs.

In operation, clamp C is placed n cradle I4, with head Ill towards the plunger. A s arms 20, 2| are compressed together, jaw 2 I b slides plunger 6 to the right in Figs. 1', 3 and 4 to compress spring 38 and slide the retaining pin legs outwardly the housing.

While I have resorted to considerable detail in explaining this specific adaptation of my inven: f

tion, I wish it understood that, in its broader aspects as defined by the appended claim, the invention is subject to various modifications.

I claim:

A clamp applying tool comprising a tubular housing, a plunger slidably mounted in the housing, an arm secured at one end to the housing and a second arm pivotally connected to the rstmentioned arm, said arms being capable of pincer-like movement with respect to each other, and a semi-circular clamp holding cradle carried by the housing in the path of movement of the plunger, said cradle opening obliquely to the plane of movement of the arms with respect to each other.

.. HERMAN H. HELBUSH. 

